Coffin-fastener



l 'UNiT'sD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. CONKLIN, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

COFFlN-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,822, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed May 8, 1890. Serial No. 351,043. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES A. CcNKLIN,

i a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Locking Devices for Burial-Casket Caps or Lids; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apperiains to make and use the same.

- My invention relates to improvement-s in spring locking-catches for caps or lids of burial-caskets adapted to be concealed within the lid and operated by means of a projecting lever so arranged that the cap or lid will be secured by simply pushing the saine down, and when desired the catch may be released by means of the projecting lever.

The object of my invention is to provide a catch which may be used with any ot' the present well-known forms of caps or lids for burialcaskets.

Said invention consists in certain vnovelty in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the same, all of which I will now proceed to point out and describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure I is an enlarged longitudinal central section of the locking device, showing the same attached to the cap or lid and in position it assumes when locked, dotted lines indicating position of lever and catch when re leased, the lever being drawn up. Fig. II is a perspective of the device removed from the cap or lid; Fig. III, a side elevation partially broken away, the operating-lever bein g drawn down to release the catch, instead of up, as in Fig. I.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the cap or lid of a burialcasket,which is secured over the glass head-plate; B, the glass plate, and C the end ofthe head 0i' the main lid of the casket, said part-s being partially broken away.

The lower end of the cap or lidA is secured to the main lid of the coffin by hooks or any other well-known means, which is not necessaryto describe, as it forms no part of the present invention. The forward end ofthe cap or lid is recessedat a at aboutthe center, and is provid ed with a slot a, extending from said recess to the edge of the cap. The locking device is secured within said recess, and consists of a plate D, preferably of circular form,let into the recess, so that its lower surface will be flush with the botto-1n of the lid. Said plate may be secured to the lid by screws orin any other suitable manner. The plateis provided with a substantially rectangular recess or opening d, and upwardly-projecting bearings d at each end of said opening.

E is the locking-bolt, having its shank mounted in said bearings and provided with a downward projection E', on the outer edge of which are formed locking spurs or notches e, having their under sides beveled. Any desired number of spurs or notches may be used. In the drawings I show but two.

e is a shoulder on the end of the bolt above the locking-spurs, and c2 is a projection eX- tending above said bolt. The forward portion of said bolt is located in a radial slot d? in the plate.

F is a guard or shield surrounding the proj ection E', the lockingispurs normallyproject= ing beyond the outer side of said guard. The guard F is secured to the plate by means of iianges f riveted to said plate, and is provided with upwardly-extending lugs f on each side of the radial slot di.

G is a double-acting operatingdever pivoted or iulcrumed to said lugs by a suitable pin g. Said lever has an upward projection G' engaging the upper projection e2 of the lockingbolt, and a projection or shoulder Gr2 engaging the shoulder e on the end of said bolt, said lever thus having projections on each side of its fulcrum, enabling it to be moved up or down to operate the bolt and forming a double-actin g lever.

Il is a spiral spring surrounding the shank of the bolt, one end of said spring resting against the rear bearing of the shank and.

the otherend engaging a pin hin said shank. This spring serves to hold the bolt forward, so that the locking-spurs normally project beyond the guard in position to engage the locking-shoulder t', which is formed in the end of the main lid of the coffin, said shoulder pref4 erably being formed of a metal plate secured over a recess in said end of the main lid.

Uien the casket and cap or lid is covered with cloth, the lever projects from the end of the said cap and guard, and the locking-spurs or catch portion of the bolt alone project through said cloth on the under side of the lid. \Vhen thelid is closed and pushed down, the beveled edges of the spurs engage the upper side ot' the lockingshoulder 'L' and are forced back. As said spurs pass the shoulder the spring throws the bolt forward, causing the catch or spurs to engage. By providing the bolt with two or more locking-spurs it is enabled to accommodate itself to different thicknesses of cloth which may be used n covering the casket, or to any imperfections in finish and tting.

The lever is provided with an operating cord K, attached to the eye Ii in the end of same, and said lever being double acting, the bolt may be released by drawing the lever up or down, thus enabling the device to be used with any of the well-known forms of caskets.

L indicates the cloth covering of the lid and casket.

Having thus fully described my invention, I I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A spring-catch for burial-casket caps or I lids, comprising a plate secured to the under side of the forward end of the cap or lid, a spring-actuated bolt mounted in bearings secured to said plate and p rovded with a downwardly-extending projection having a series ot' locking-spurs adapted to engage a lockingshoulder in the casket, and a lever f nlcrumed upon said plate and engaging the bolt to re4 lease the locking-spu rs from the lockingshoulder, substantially as shown and described, for the purpose set forth.

2. A spring-catch for burial-casket caps or lids, comprising a plate secured to the under side of the forward end of the caps, a springactuated bolt mounted in bearings secured to said plate and provided with a downwardlyextending projection having a series of locking-spurs adapted to engage a lockingjshoulder in the casket, and a double-acting lever fulcrumed upon said plate and engaging the boit to release the locking-spurs from the locking-shoulder, substantially as shown and deseri bed, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony7 whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. CONKLIN. Vitnesses:

W. C. Mol-LAN, R. IL RoBmNs. 

